Leg-spinner Alana King returned with career-best figures of seven for 17 as Australia registered a dominant seven-wicket win over South Africa in a low scoring ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 match at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Saturday.
Following their dominating win, Australia secured the top spot in the league stage and will face hosts India in the second semi-final at Navi Mumbai on Thursday, on October 30. On the other hand, South Africa will face England in the first semi-final in Guwahati on October 29.
After winning the toss and opting to field first, Alana King wreaked havoc with the ball, notching the best-ever figures (7-2-18-7) by a bowler at ICC Women’s ODI World Cup as Australia restricted South Africa to 97 in their top-of-the-table clash in Indore.
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Coming in to bowl at the other side of the powerplay, King dismantled the Proteas middle order. The leggie got the better of Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Chloe Tryon, Masabata Klaas, and finally Nadine de Klerk.
Starting off the game, Megan Schutt picked the all-important wicket of Laura Wolvaardt in her opening burst to provide Australia with an early breakthrough. Soon after, Kim Garth removed Tazmin Brits to provide the defending champions with their second wicket in the powerplay during an important table-toppers contest.
With King trapping the Proteas in a tizzy with her tweakers, Ash Gardner also came into play with her spin, cleaning up Ayabonga Khaka to make it nine wickets for Australia. But it was the star of the show, King, who wrapped up the innings by getting one through de Klerk to complete her seven-for.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt (31), Sinalo Jafta (29) and Nadine de Klerk (14) reached double figures for South Africa.
After a magnificent bowling display and chasing their smallest target at the ongoing tournament, Australia lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay as the Proteas hit back with the ball.
Marizanne Kapp broke the deadlock by getting rid of Phoebe Litchfield in her opening spell. Meanwhile, Nadine de Klerk held on to an absolute stunner to send Ellyse Perry back in the hut off Masabata Klaas.
Thereafter, Georgia Voll (38 not out) and Beth Mooney (42) then steadied Australia’s chase, stitching together 76 runs for the third wicket, all but wrapping up the game for the seven-time winners. Annabel Sutherland eventually hit the winning runs as Australia chased the target with 33.1 overs to spare.